Chris Hemsworth invites Manchester bombing survivor to attend next Thor premiere with him

Martin Hibbert was severely injured in the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017
George Fenwick21 May 2020
The Weekender

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Chris Hemsworth has sent a special message to a survivor of the Manchester bombing, who he has invited to attend the next Thor premiere in London.

Appearing on The Morning Show on Australia’s Channel 7, Hemsworth told Martin Hibbert he felt inspired by meeting Hibbert when he was in Australia to receive treatment for his spinal injuries.

“Hi Martin, hope you're doing well buddy. Just wanted to say the time that we spent together in Australia was truly inspiring,” said Hemsworth.

“To meet someone who had faced such adversity and such dramatic challenges, but to see someone like yourself with such a positive attitude was incredible.”

In pictures: Chris Hemsworth

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He continued: “To face the road to recovery with such determination and commitment is absolutely inspiring and you’re one of a kind, and I can't wait to see you soon as we walk down the red carpet together.”​

Speaking to 7news, Hibbert, who was at the Ariana Grande concert with his daughter Eve, explained he suffered 22 shrapnel wounds, one of which left him unable to walk.

“The two more serious injuries were a bolt that severed my spinal cord about midway down my back, which means I’m paralysed from the bellybutton down,” he said.

After two trips to Australia for revolutionary treatment, Hibbert has miraculously regained some movement in his legs.

During his second trip, which was four months long, Hibbert befriended Hemsworth, who invited him to the premiere of Thor: Love and Thunder in 2021 when he is back on his feet.

“You’ve brought a tear to my eye,” Hibbert told The Morning Show presenters Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies.

He explained Hemsworth’s promise in full to 7news, saying his aim is to be walking “over the next couple of years.”

“I told [Hemsworth]... that we should maybe meet up when he is over in London,” he said.

“His latest Thor film was due out in 2021, so he said if I’m walking in 2021, we would walk down the red carpet at Thor 4 in London.

“So that is a big motivation for me to have that - it’s something to really hold onto.”

Production has temporarily suspended on Thor: Love and Thunder, which is being directed by Taika Waititi.

The film will feature Natalie Portman returning to the franchise to play female Thor

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